Dangerous cargo goods. Photo: Shutterstock The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has introduced DG Digital, a fully digital Dangerous Goods Declaration solution, as part of its DG AutoCheck platform. The tool aims to simplify and speed up the declaration process for more than 3,800 dangerous items, ranging from lithium batteries to explosives and chemicals. By
digitalizing the creation and approval process, DG Digital improves safety, reduces shipment rejections, and streamlines operations for shippers and airlines alike.
Currently, about 95% of Dangerous Goods Declarations are still submitted on paper. These paper documents must be scanned, converted to PDFs, and uploaded into DG AutoCheck for validation. This process is oftentimes slow and prone to errors. DG Digital aims to resolve this issue by creating and transmitting electronic declarations from the shipper to the airline, eliminating manual handling and reducing the risk of errors.
DG Digital collects all required information for a Dangerous Goods Declaration while enabling seamless electronic data exchange with partners. Cross-referencing IATA’s Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR), the system can detect missing or incorrect information that might otherwise lead to a shipment being delayed or rejected. By verifying declarations before shipment, airlines and shippers can prevent costly fines and address potential safety issues proactively.
The tool was tested in Japan last year, involving All Nippon Airways (ANA), Japan Airlines (JAL), and six freight forwarders including Nippon Express and Yusen Logistics. During these trials, only 0.5% of dangerous goods shipments were rejected, marking a substantial improvement over the current global average of 4.5%.
Since the launch of DG AutoCheck in 2019, more than 1 million dangerous goods checks have been completed, with over a third conducted in 2025 alone. The surge in dangerous goods shipments, particularly lithium batteries, contributed to a 17.5% increase in cargo checks for the year.
Frederic Leger, IATA’s Senior Vice President of Product & Services, explained: “IATA’s Dangerous Goods Regulations are focused on reducing complexity and improving safety in the shipment of dangerous goods. DG Digital supports this by digitalizing the shipper’s declaration process, providing all stakeholders, from shipping agents and freight forwarders to ground handlers and airlines, access to the same document. This ensures issues can be resolved quickly before an item is physically shipped.”